Could it be one more for the road for unsettled Toon stars?

I find it amazing that three managers (Souness, Roeder and Allardyce) couldn’t detect what has been obvious for years Shola Ameobi and Stephen Carr are not Premiership standard players.

Kevin Keegan has only been in charge five minutes and he ships out Shola on loan and free transfers Carr.

Of the players that are heavily linked with moves- Only Alan Smith is a player with no previous form at all. When he was at Leeds, playing up front regularly, he was never prolific and only threw himself about a bit- and inevitably got booked or sent off- so he seemed to suit the Sam Allardyce ‘Spoiler’ mentality. £6m? What a waste.

Shola Ameobi is nearly 26 and amazingly, is only 2 years off a testimonial. He has displayed no progression throughout his career and has actually gone backwards- his touch is awful, he’s tall but is surprisingly poor in the air, he’s slow, a poor passer, doesn’t put himself about at all and for someone who has now played alongside the two greatest modern day strikers in Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, he has learned nowt.

Damien Duff has form in his past, but that was three and four years ago, a player I really admired. Sadly he’s 29, no spring chicken and never takes a man on, like he did at Chelsea.

The one thing that links the three, are they are both more than likely on high wages,- Alan Smith a reported £60k a week and it’s fair to say Duff will be on even more than that. Ameobi probably isn’t, but with Mike Ashley wanting to slash the wage bill- these three MUST go, they are so bleedingly obvious. Trouble is finding a buyer.

The other two, Milner and N’Zogbia are different, they are both young, seem to be getting better by the season, have similar attributes and in a good side, would look far better than they do at present.

N’Zogbia seem to be temperamental and if he wants the bright lights of London and to be with his family, then fine, why keep him? But in everyday work, if someone offered me a job on £40k plus a week to be away from the family- I’d ask- ‘Quick, where do I sign? Has he not heard of trains, planes, or visits, or doesn’t his fabulous wage cover that?

James Milner is different altogether, he has never been any trouble, never banged down the door for a new contract, never mumbled when left out and on the field he gets better by the year. A proper youngster with a good future. Keep him.

One other player, who I also admired and liked the look of, but one I’d also get rid of, is Emre. He just can’t stay fit for more than two games in succession. He must suffer more calf trouble than a stable full of racehorses. He also doesn’t seem to be up to the physicality’s of the Premier league. Once more he’s bound to be on a pretty packet.

So there you Kevin,-To go with Stephen Carr, you have, Emre, Duff, N’Zogbia, Smith, Ameobi, theres the wage bill slashed dramatically, plus with money coming in via the transfer fee’s there shouldn’t be a problem with money.

Also didn’t Kevin get rid of a lot of Allaryce’s backroom staff? So I can’t see why the wages should be a problem at all.

This is not the time to be stingy, lets not forget, the net spend LAST summer was negligible and hardly set us up for a good season, we can’t afford to have a second summer like that.

I’ve said before, the squad doesn’t need major £80m alterations, but surely sitting on your thumbs and telling your manager to slash the wage bill and wait for your funds, isn’t going to get this club best set for pre-season.

Paul.

I wouldn't mind Duff staying he would be a great squad player and he is still basically recovering from his serious injury so we all need to give him some time. Milner must stay I would be devastated if he were to leave. I'd love for Charliue to stay but who knows. Smith needs to go really, he just doesn't fit in with the current players.

It was not so much the switch to 4-4-2 that led to our demise at the hands of Chelsea but the introduction of the hapless Smith who is the most inept striker ever to pull on a black & white shirt. Even Stephane Guivarc'h managed to find the back of the net and he only put in 4 appearances. Smith on the other hand is rapidly approaching the 3 year mark without a single domestic goal to his name. That speaks for itself and lets not forget it was Smith who was supposedly marking Ballack when he scored the all important first goal for Chelsea. Sorry Lee it is not the formation that let us down against Chelsea, it was the deployment of Smith!

The transfer window at Newcastle will stay frozen for now. I dont think KK will make any additions until the end of the Euro cup. Personally, I dont really think Newcastle is going to recruit any of the 'rumored' transfers.

So far we have been linked with Turan, Gomis, Emana, Wayne, Nicky Shorey and lots more I cant remmeber.

Turan is a good player but whether or not he will be allowed to go is unknown. A swoop will be nice but KK dont seem to be interested. Once again, another talent falling into the pit.

Gomis can actually be considered but his price value would have sky rocketed by the time Euro is over and possibly bigger teams would want him now. (Manchester United, of course.)

Emana, couldnt really give much comment. I have no idea whether or not he's coming. Nickey Shorey is quite like standing on a bamboo stick, I really dont think he will favor Newcastle for bigger teams. Aston Villa will probably bid for him.

Wayne? Need I explain further? We've got two keepers on the reserves, both star quality. That should justify the point that unless Newcastle keepers suddenly contracted Given's "Harewood's curse", I dont think Newcastle ever need to buy a keeper. (Unless the keeper is big enough to cover the whole goal area.)

Who says Shola hasnt been contributing? He's about to, by being sold away and no longer shall we be paying high wages to man-wearing-stilts.

Alan Smith is nothing but a leech and an annoying one too. He tries, credit to him, but still never going to be good enough. The reason ManU was so desperate to accept a 6M fee was completely justified...and we were stupid enough to cheer Big Sam for buying such a waste basket.

Duff got potential and so does Zog. Dont want to see them gone but if they go for the greater good of loosening the wallet, I'd let them go. Duff's got too much money every week while Zog? Just cant understand his mind, does he want to play or not?

One player I wont be allowing to move will be Milner. KK should do well in keeping the lad, for three good reasons:
1. He has the best potential and under KK, can improve a lot more.
2. He can shoot from afar, got skill and does defending as well. So far, he showed a lot of passion.
3. He keeps Geremi on the bench. This is the greatest contribution.

And a little note. We lost at Chelsea not because of the formation but because we lacked a physical presence in the entire midfield and strikers, which was contributed by Mark Viduka. Another reason was because A.Smith was playing. We were down to ten men the moment he entered and Chelsea capitalize on his demoralizing presence.

This can be proved by looking at the Everton game where 4-3-3 doesnt work. Why? Carrol is young, no blames there, but because A.Smith is playing. Once again, we were handicapped.

And if the reason for no good transfers next season turns out to be about money, I'll be taking out the pitching fork I've used to chase Freddie the last time he foiled us for money.